Kerf-cutting machine



Oct. 21,, 1947. F. A. LINDGREN KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 50, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN Vf N TOR z'li Oct. 21, 1947. F. A. LINDGREN KERR-CUTTING MACHINE I Filed June so,.1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I JWE/W R A Tran/V5) Oct. 21,1947. F. A. LINDGREN KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Fild June so, 1945 e Sheets-Sheet s Oct. 21, 1947.

F. A. LI N D GREN KEEP-CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 NN MN MN Y W ENTOR Eel/if AITORNE) Oct. 21, 1947. F. A. LlNDGI Q EN 2,429,323

KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Filed June so, 1945 e Sheets-Sheei s A rronwey 9 I F. A. LIN DGREN 2,429,323

I KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 30/ 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet s 17 VENTOR/ I Patented Oct. 21 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Frank A. Lindgren, La Grange, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill, a corporation of Illinois Application J one 30, 1945, Serial No. 602,565

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in kerfcutting machines of the room and pillar type particularly adapted for use in thin seams of coal.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a new and improved kerf-cutting machine of a low overall height, which is adapted to discharge the cuttings from the rear of the machine and is compactly arranged in both longitudinal and vertical dimensions.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a low vein kerf-cutting machine having a novel and efiicient gearing arrangement reducing the height of the machine over former kerfcutting machines of this type, without sacrificing the efiiciency of the machine or strength and accessibility of the drive gearing therefor.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new and improved kerf-cutting machine of a low overall height having a novel form and arrangement of cuttings discharge conveyer incorporated as a part of the machine.

This application is a continuation in part of an application Serial No. 525,927, filed by me on March 10, 1944.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a kerf-cutting machine constructed in accordance with my invention, with certain parts of the gear cover broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear end view of the machine shown in Figure 1, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially transverse section;

Figure 3 is a View in side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1, drawn to a slightly larger scale than Figure 1;

Figure 4 is'a fragmentary plan view of the machine with certain of the gearing removed and with certain other parts broken away and shown in horizontal section in order to more clearly show the mounting of the cutter bar on the machine and the details of the cuttings removing device;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Figure 4;

, Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 'l-'l of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a partial fragmentary central longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of clutch arrangement for selectively driving the cutter chain sprocket;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through the gearing for driving the cuttings removing conveyer; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line H-l| of Figure 10.

In the drawings the embodiment of my invention illustrated includes generally a motor l0 having a cutter bar H mounted therebeneath and projecting forwardly therefrom and having a main frame I2, forming a housing for the feed and cutter chain drive gearing of the machine, secured to the rear end of said motor and projecting rearwardly therefrom. Said motor and main frame are spaced above the ground so as to permit the discharge of the cuttings beneath said motor and main frame beyond the rear end of the machine, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

The motor I0 is spaced above the ground on two parallel laterally spaced side walls i3, i3, herein shown as depending from the main body of said motor and terminating into outwardly extending horizontal supporting shoes 14, I l. The bottoms of said supporting shoes are recessed to receive a bottom plate I5, which forms a slidable support for said motor on the ground and which is secured to said shoes by means of cap screws l6, l6 extending through said shoes from the upper sides thereof, and threaded in said bottom plate (see Figures 4 and 6).

The casing for the motor) is provided with a central portion ll depending from the main body thereof, the inside of which portion forms a recess to receive a lower salient pole l8 of said motor (see Figure 6). The lower portion of the outside of said depending portion I"! has two longitudinally spaced inverted T-shaped guide members 2!, 22, depending from its central portion and extending longitudinally thereof, which are adapted to extend within the slotted central por tion of said cutter bar and form a slidable guide therefor. The crosses of the Ts of said guide members abut the undersides of the flanges of supporting rails 23, 23 of said cutter bar. The bottoms of the crosses of the Ts of said guides are abutted by longitudinally spaced plates 24, a

25, herein shown as being welded to the top surface of the bottom plate l5. Nuts and bolts l9, I9 mounted in laterally spaced inwardly recessed portions 20, 20 of the forward end of said motor extends rearwardly from the rear end of said cutter bar to and adjacent a cutter chaindrive sprocket 30, splined on the lower end of a vertical drive shaft 3!, and forms bearing surfaces for the insides of the cutter chain, fdr guiding said cutter chain during its travel from said cutter bar onto said sprocket and back onto said cutter bar.

It should here be noted with reference to Figure 6 that the extreme up cutter chain blocks extend angularly upwardly along the inclined sides of the depending portion ii'so as to recess, said motor casing well within the orbit of the top bits of said cutter chain, to permit the use of a motor of the requisite power for efliciently driving the operating parts of the machine and to maintain the height of the machine, to the low overall vertical dimensions requisite for operation in thin seams of coal, as has been disclosed in Patent No. 2,075,871), which issued to William W. Sloane April 6, 19 37.

The main frame I2 is provided with a depending sidewall 33 extending along one side thereof and spaced outwardly from thepath of the cutter chain 29, but herein shown as being spaced in: wardly from the lateral boundaries of said main frame (see Figure 2). 'Said side wall has an outwardly extending horizontal portion 34, the bot: tom of which is recessed to receive a bottom plate 35, which is secured thereto by cap screws 36, 36. The oppositeside of said bottom plate is slightly upturned, to space the edge of said bottom plate opposite from the horizontal portion. 34 above the ground, as is indicated by. reference character 3]. Said upturnededge is adapted to be slidably re --v ceived by a channelled guide 38 open towards the inner side of the inachineand formed inthe lower end of a housing portion39of the main frame if for a cuttings discharge con'veyerrdil, for discharging the cuttings fromthe machineby power.

The depending centralportion i 'lfof the main frame 12 is somewhat similar to the depending portion ll of the casing for. the motor and is provided with t r l seated, n lined sides so arranged that the bits of the cutter chain 2 9 may extend upwardly along the side walls'ofsaid central portion and permit the feedand cutter chain drive gearing to extend Within the recess formed in the inside of said depending pgrtion and withw inthe orbit of the top hits of the cutter chain, and thus conserve in vertical space and keep down the vertical dimension otthe machinevto the low overall height requisite fo operation in thin seams of coal A, tilting shoe 45, extends across thebottom of the 'machinefin thesp'ace between the rear end of thebottom plate I andthe forward end of the bottom plate 35, and'forms a means for elee vating' the rear end of the machine about the forwardgendoffthe bottom plate is, or, for tilting the/machine about one side or the other. Said tilting sh'oe' has a'pair'of longitudinally spaced bosses 4'6, dear. ea hendthereof adaptedito re.- ceive thelowerj endsof guide rods 4], Hsecured to and projecting upwardly therefrom (see Figures 7 and 11).

The guide rods 41, 41 extend upwardly through retaining members 49, 49 threaded in the lower ends of cylindrical housings 50, 50, herein shown as being formed integrally with the side walls of the main frame l2. The openings in said retaining members, through which said guide rods extend, are of a larger diameter than said guide rods, so as to permit relatively free motion between said rods and said guide members and permit the machine to be tilted about its forward end or about one side or the other of said tilting shoe. Said retaining members 49 form seats for the lower ends of compression springs 5|, 5!, the upper ends of which springs are seated within retaining members 53, 53 threaded on the upper ends ofsaid guide rods. Said compression springs urge said tilting shoe in engagement with the lower ends of pistons 5.4, 54 slidably mounted in in e s 55, ,5. her in shQ a be n formed tegrally with the depending side walls of said ain f ame bet a in er 50, l id under pressure is admitted to each cylinder 55 to depress the piston 5.4, through a fitting 52, herein shown as being threaded in the upper end of said cylinder. Suitable valves and piping are provided to independently admit fluid under pressure to either one of said cylinders 55,, '55 to extend the respectivepiston 54 and tiltth machine about either side thereof, or to both of said cylinders at the same time, to, elevate the rear end of the machine about the front end of the bottom plate [5. Said valves and; the fluid conneca tions to said fittings are not herein shown or described since they form no. part of my present invention.

T e f edin mechanism. inc udes. enerall i machine along the minebottom, as is-well known,

to thoseskilled in the art. The motor illhas a longitudinally extending armature shaft '59 having. an armature pinion 6U keyed onits rear end, whichmeshes with and drivesa spurgear 6! (see Figure 5). Said spur gear is herein shown as being splined on the-rear endof; a longitudinally extending intermediate shaft 62'- disposed beneath and extending parallel to said armature shaft. Said intermediate shaft is journaled adjacent its forward end; in an anti-friction bearing 63 supported in the lower recessedpart 27- of saidmain frame, and is journaled just rearwalidl Qf. said spur gear 61 in an anti-frictionbearing6A supported in said lower; recessed part of saidmain frame so that said hearings and spur gear extend downwardly withinthe orbitalpath of the upper bits of; said cutter chain, is clearly shown in erally by reference characters l9, l9 and arranged at opposite sides of said worm gear.

Each planetary gear reduction device 79 has driving connection with a winding drum 55, for independently driving said windin drums at high and low frictionally controlled speeds. Said planetary gear reduction devices may be of any well known form providing high and low frictionally controlled speeds, and are herein shown as being of a form similar to that shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,006,399, which issued July 21, 1935, so need not herein be shown or described in detail, excepting to point out that each of said planetaries is controlled by two friction bands ll, 12, and that said planetariesare arranged to independently drive said winding drums through separate shafts l3, 13, which have their adjacent ends coaxially but independently mounted within the hubs M, M of internal gears l5, 15 of said planetaries, as appears in Figure '7.

The drive to the cutter chain 29 includes a bevel pinion 75 keyed on the intermediate shaft 62 just forwardly of an anti-friction bearing 63 and meshing with and driving a bevel gear Tl mounted on the vertical shaft 3! for free rotation with re spect thereto. Said bevel pinion extends within the recessed portion 27 of the main frame I 2 and the teeth of said bevel gear face the ground. Said bevel gear is herein shown as being a bevel ring gear mounted on a spider 18 on the lower'end of a hub or sleeve l9, suitably journaled adjacent its upper and lower ends on the vertical shaft M on spaced anti-friction bearings. The vertical shaft 3| is journaled adjacent its upper end in an antifriction bearing 86 mounted in a bearing supporting bridge 8! extending across the upper end of said main frame. Said shaft is also journaled just above the cutter chain drive sprocket at! in an anti-friction bearing 83 mounted in the lower depending portion 27 of said main frame.

The selective drive connection from the bevel gear i? to the shaft 3! and cutter chain drive sprocket 39 includes a clutch member 84 splined on said shaft just beneath the spider l8 and having teeth 85, 85 formed integrally with an upper outer portion thereof. Said'teeth are adapted to be selectively meshed with teeth 86, 85 cut internally of the spider 78. A clutch fork 81 is provided to move said externally splined clutch member 84 vertically along the shaft 3i to selectively connect said bevel gear with said shaft for driving said shaft from the motor it. Said clutch fork may be operated in a suitable manner by any well known form of links and levers, which are not herein shown or described since they form no part of my present invention.

It should here be noted that as a novel feature of my invention the intermediate shaft 62 is disposed beneath the worm gear 66 in the recessed portion 21 of the main frame 12, and the bevel pinion 15 on the end of said intermediate shaft meshes with the downwardly facing teeth of the bevel gear H and extends well beneath the path of the upper bits of the cutter chain 29, thus permitting the planetaries l9, 19 to be within the vertical limits of the motor it without reducing the size of said planetaries over the planetaries heretofore used in kerf-cutting machines of the class described, as a standard part thereof. It should also be noted that the clutch member 84 is disposed beneath said bevel gear so as not to take up any more vertical space other than the distance from the center line of said bevel pinion to the spider of said bevel gear so as to reduce the height of the machine over former machines of the same type, where the intermediate shaft and worm are disposed above the worm gear, without sacrificing strength of the drive gearing therefor.

A drive means is provided to supply a source of power on the kerf-cutting machine for driving a truck (not shown) on which the kerf-cutting machine may be mounted for transportation about the mine. Said drive means, as herein shown, includes a bevel gear 88 facing upwardly from and formed integrally with the spider l8, and meshing with a bevel pinion 89 on the forward end of a longitudinal stub shaft 99. Said longitudinal shaft is mounted within a sleeve 9| having an enlarged outer end, which forms a drive socket adapted to detachably receive a coupling connected with the truck drive gearing, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, so not herein shown or described. Said sleeve is journaled adjacent its forward end in a depending rear end wall of the bridge 8! and is journaled adjacent its rear end in the rear end wall of said main frame, on suitable anti-friction bearmgs.

In the form of drive to the cutter chain shown in Figure 8, the power socket for driving the truck is absent and the clutch for selectively connecting the bevel gear ll with the vertical shaft 3|, for driving said shaft and the cutter chain 29, is disposed above said bevel gear so as to be readily accessible for repair. In this form of my invention the bevel ring gear l! is mounted on the flange of a flanged sleeve 110, which is mounted on the shaft 3| for free rotation with respect thereto. The portion of said sleeve extending above said bevel gear is externally splined and has a clutch member 11'! splined thereon. The splines of said clutch member are adapted to selectively mesh with the teeth of a gear 112 splined on the upper end of the Vertical shaft 3i. A clutch fork 113 is provided to move said clutch member vertically along said shaft, to selectively connect said bevel gear with said shaft, for driving said shaft from the motor I9. Said clutch fork is adapted to be operated by an operating lever I'M on a rock shaft 115, through a suitable system of links and levers, not herein shown or described in detail since it is no part of my present invention.

The means for discharging the cuttings from the rear end of the machine includes a rotary sweep or agitator 94 mounted on the lower end of the vertical shaft 3| just beneath the cutter chain drive sprocket 30 and secured thereto by means of a nut 95 threaded on the lower end of said shaft and suitably locked in position thereon (see Figure 5). Said sweep is somewhat similar to that shown and described in Patent No. 2,352,795, which issued to William T. McCullough, July 4, 1944, so will not herein be described excepting to state that it is provided with a plurality of impeller arms 96, 95 disposed at substantially retreating angles relative to the normal direction of rotation of said sweep so as to provide a positive propelling action for feeding the cuttings to a screw conveyor 91 of the slack removing device 49. Said slack removing device is herein shown as extending along the retreating side of the machine at a slight angle with respect thereto so that its rear end is inclined towards the longitudinal center of the machine, so as to position said slack removing device to efficiently collect the cuttings discharged by the impeller arms 98, 9t and the cutter chain 29.

It will here be understood that the kerf-cut 9 construed as limiting my invention to thespecific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims. 7

I claim as my invention:

1. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate and extending rearwardly of said motor, a cuttings passageway extending beneath said motor and frame, a horizontal cutter bar of substantially uniform width throughout its length extending beneath said motor and projecting beyond the forward end thereof, a cutter chain orbitally movable about said cutter bar and adapted to discharge its cuttings beneath said motor along said cuttings passageway to the rear of said frame, said frame having a longitudinally extend ing recessed portion depending beneath the upper margins of said cutter bar, feed operating mechanism mounted on said frame and including two feed drums adapted to have flexible feeding members wound thereon, gear reduction mechanism for driving said feed drums including a planetary gear reduction device and a coaxial worm gear for driving said planetary gear reduction device, and means for driving said worm gear and said cutter chain from said motor including a longitudinal shaft, a geared drive connection from said shaft to said cutter chain, and a worm on said shaft meshing with said worm gear, said shaft being disposed beneath said worm gear and the gearing on said shaft extending downwardly within said central depending portion of said frame and the orbital path of said cutter chain and beneath the upper margins of said cutter bar.

2. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar of substantially uniform width throu hout its length extending beneath said motor and projecting beyond the forward end thereof, a cutter chain orbitally movable about said cutter bar and adapted to discharge its cuttings beneath said motor to the rear of said frame, feed operating mechanism mounted on said frame and including two feed drums adapted to have flexible feeding members wound thereon, gear reduction mechanism for driving said feed drums including a planetary gear reduction device and a coaxial worm gear for driving said planetary gear reduction device, and means for driving said worm gear and said cutter chain from said motor including a motor pinion, a longitudinal shaft, a worm on said shaft meshing with said Worm gear, a gear on one .end of said shaft meshing with said motor pinion, a bevel pinion on the opposite end of said shaft, a vertical shaft, a cutter chaindrlve sprocket on the lower end of said vertical shaft, a bevel gear freely mounted on said shaft, clutch means selectively connecting said bevel gear with said shaft, said bevel gear being disposed above said bevel pinion and driven therefrom, and said bevel pinion and gear on said longitudinal shaft extending downwardly within the orbital path of said cutter chain and beneath the upper margins of said cutter bar.

3. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar of substantially uniform width throughout its length extending beneath said motor and projecting beyond the forward end thereof, a cutter chain orbitally movable about said cutter bar and adapted to discharge its cuttings beneath said motor to the rear of said frame, feed operating mechanism mounted on said frame and including two feed drums adapted to have flexible feeding members wound thereon, gear reduction mechanism for driving said feed drums including a planetary gear reduction device and a coaxial worm gear for driving said planetary gear reduction device, means for driving said cutter chain including a vertical shaft having a cutter chain drive sprocket thereon, a bevel gear freely mounted on said shaft, and a longitudinal shaft disposed beneath said worm gear and having a worm thereon meshing therewith, a drive connection from said motor to said shaft, a bevel pinion on said shaft meshing with said bevel gear, clutch means coaxial with and disposed above said bevel gear, for selectively connecting said bevel gear to said vertical shaft, and said bevel pinion extending beneath the upper margins of said cutter bar.

In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar of substantially uniform width throughout its length extending beneath said motor and projecting beyond the forward end of the machine, a cutter chain orbitally movable about said cutter bar and adapted to discharge its cuttings to the rear of said frame, feed operating mechanism mounted on said frame and including two feed drums adapted to have flexible feeding members wound thereon, gear reduction mechanism for driving said feed drums including two coaxial planetary gear reduction devices each of which has driving connection with one of said feed drums, a worm gear coaxial with and disposed between said planetary gear reduction devices, for driving said planetary gear reduction devices, and means for driving said worm gear and said cutter chain from said motor including a longitudinal shaft disposed beneath said worm gear and having a worm thereon meshing with said worm gear, a spur gear for driving said shaft, a vertical shaft disposed rearwardly of said planetaries and having a cutter chain drive sprocket on the lowerend thereof, a bevel gear selectively connectible with said vertical shaft for driving said shaft, the teeth of said bevel gear facing the ground, and a bevel pinion on said longitudinal shaft meshing with said bevel gear, said spur gear and bevel pinion extending downwardly within the orbital path of said cutter chain.

5. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutting bar extending beneath said motor and projecting beyond the forward end of the machine, a cutter chain orbitally movable about said cutter bar and adapted to discharge its cuttings to the rear of said frame, feed operating mechanism mounted on said frame and including two feed drums adapted to have flexible feeding members wound thereon, gear reduction mechanism for driving said feed drums including two coaxial planetary gear reduction reduction devices, and means for driving said worm gear and said cutter chain from said motor including a longitudinal shaft disposed beneath ll said worm gear and having a worm thereon meshing with said worm gear, a spur gear for driving said shaft, a vertical shaft disposed rearwardly of said planetaries and having a cutter chain drive sprocket on the lower end thereof, a bevel gear selectively connectible with said vertical shaft for driving said shaft, the teeth of said bevel gear facing the ground, and a bevel pinion on said longitudinal shaft meshing with said bevel gear, said spur gear and bevel pinion extending beneath a plane parallel with and extending across the upper portion of said outter chain, and clutch means coaxial with and disposed above said bevel gear, for selectively connecting said bevel gear to said vertical shaft.

6. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a gear housing spaced vertically of said base plate, a motor mounted forwardly of said housing and also spaced vertically of said base plate, a forwardly projecting cutter bar of substantially uniform width throughout its length extending beneath said motor and said housing, said housing having a longitudinally disposed recessed portion projecting downwardly from said housing into said cutter bar adjacent the rear end thereof, a cutter chain orbitally movable about said cutter bar, flexible feeding mechanism on said gear housing including a rotatable drum, and drive mechanism for said chain at the rear end of said cutter bar, and a longitudinally extending drive shaft journaled in said gear housing and driven from the rear end of said motor and having geared connection with said feeding mechanism and said chain drive mechanism, respectively, said drive shaft extending within and having bearing support in said recessed portion of said housing and the gears on said shaft for driving said cutter chain drive and flexible feeding mechanisms extending downwardly within the orbit ofsaid cutter chain.

'1. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar extending beneath and projecting beyond the forward end of said motor, a cuttings passageway extending along and beneath said frame and motor, a cutter chain movable about said cutter bar and in said cuttings passageway, for discharging its cuttings through said pasageway to the rear end of said frame, deflecting means in the rear end of said passageway substantially conforming to the path of said cutter chain and closing the rear end of said passageway, for deflecting the cuttings to the retreating side of said frame, and a screw conveyer extending longitudinally along the retreating side of said frame Within the limits of the machine and in cuttings receiving relation with respect to said deflecting means, for removing the cuttings to the rear end of said frame.

8. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar extending beneath and projecting beyond the forward end of said motor, a cuttings passageway extending along and beneath said frame and motor, a cutter chain movable about said cutter bar and in said cuttings passageway, for discharging its cuttings through said passageway to the rear end of said frame, deflecting means in the rear end of said passageway substantially conforming to the path of said cutter'ch'ain and closing the rear end of said passageway, for defiectingthe cuttings to the retreating side of said frame, a screw conveyer including a casing having a screw element mounted therein, extending along the retreating side of said frame within the limits of'the machine, a selective geared drive connection from said motor to said screw element, and said casing having an inner open portion opening into said frame in cuttings receiving relation with respect to said deflecting means and a rear open end for the discharge of the cuttings therefrom.

9. In a Keri-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter" bar extending beneath and projecting beyond the forward end of said motor, a cuttings passageway extending along and beneath said frame and motor, a cutter chain movable about said cutter bar and in said cuttings passageway for discharging its cuttings through said'passagewayto the rear end of said frame, a screw conveyer 'extending'along the retreating side of said frame and recessed therein within the lateral limits of the machine and including a casing extending along and closing the retreating side of the machine and opening to discharge the cuttings to the rear end of the machine adjacent the retreating side thereof, said casing having a screw element rotatably mounted therein andthe inner portion of said casing opening into said cuttings, passageway in cuttings receiving relation with respect thereto.

10. In a Keri-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom; a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar extending beneath and projecting beyond the forward end of said motor, a cuttings passageway extending along and beneath said frame and motor, a cutter chain movable about said cutter bar and in said cuttings passageway, for discharging its cuttings through said passageway to the rear end of said frame, a screw conveyer extending, along the retreating side of said frame and recessed therein Within the lateral limits of the machine and including a casing extending along and closing the retreating side of the machine and opening to discharge the cuttings to the rear end of the machine adjacent the retreating side thereof, said casing having a screw element rotatably mounted therein and the inner portion of said casing opening into said cuttings passageway in cuttings receiving relation with respect thereto, a selective drive connection from said motor to said screw element, and deflecting means extending across the rear end of said passageway and substantially conforming to the path of said cutter chain, and leading to said inner open portion of said casing, for deflecting the cuttings into said casing and screw element.

11. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar extending beneath and projecting beyond the forward end of said motor, a cuttings passageway extending along and beneath said frame and motor, a cutter chain movable about said cutter bar and in said cuttings passageway, for discharging its cuttings through said passageway to the rear end of said frame, a screw conveyor extending along the retreating side of said frame and recessed therein, within the lateral limits of the machine and including a casing extending along and closing the retreating side of the machine and opening to discharge the cuttings to the rear end of the machine adj acent the retreating side thereof, said casing having a screw element rotatably mounted therein and the inner portion of said casing opening into said cuttings passageway in cuttings receiving relation with respect thereto, a selective drive connection from said motor to said screw element, and deflecting means extending across the rear end of said passageway and substantially conforming to the path of said cutter chain, and leading to said inner open portion of said casing, for deflecting the cuttings into said casingand screw element, said deflecting means including a hinged closure member arranged to open to permit accessibility to said screw element.

12. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar extending beneath and projecting beyond the forward end of said motor, a cuttings passageway extending along and beneath said frame and motor, a cutter chain movable about said cutter bar, a drive sprocket for said chain adjacent the rear end of said passage, a rotary sweep mounted beneath said drive sprocket for rotation therewith, a screw conveyer extending longitudinally along one side of said frame and including a casing extending along and closing the retreating side of the machine and having a discharge opening at the rear of the machine, said casing having an inner receiving opening and having a screw element rotatably mounted therein, a selective drive connection from said motor to said screw element, and deflecting means extending across the rear end of said passageway and conforming substantially to the path of travel of said sweep element, for guiding the cuttings into said screw conveyer.

13. In a kerf-cutting machine, a base plate slidable along a mine bottom, a motor mounted on and spaced vertically from said base plate, a frame extending rearwardly of said motor, a horizontal cutter bar extending beneath and projecting beyond the forward end of said motor, a cuttings passageway extending along and beneath said frame and motor, a cutter chain movable about said cutter bar, a drive sprocket for said chain adjacent the rear end of said passage, a rotary sweep mounted beneath said drive sprocket for rotation therewith, a screw conveyer extending longitudinally along one side of said frame and including a casing extending along and closing the retreating side of the machine and havin a, discharge opening at the rear of the machine, said casing having an inner receiving opening and having a screw element rotatably mounted therein, a selective drive connection from said motor to said screw element, and deflecting means extending across the rear end of said passageway and conforming substantially to the path of travel of said sweep element, for guiding the cuttings into said screw conveyer, said deflecting means including a rear hinged closure member adapted to be opened to provide access to said sweep and screw element.

FRANK A. LINDGREN.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,632,810 Vodoz June 21, 1927 1,742,178 Maxson Dec. 31, 1929 2,075,870 Sloane Apr. 6, 1937 2,268,260 Mavor Dec. 30, 1941 2,283,376 Lindgren May 19, 1942 2,320,004 McCullough May 25, 1943 2,349,311 Simmons May 23, 1944 2,359,422 Jeffrey Oct. 3, 1944 

